Starting Yr11 Gcses 2020 Support Thread [Edited at OP's request]

[OrangeCinnamon]

A continuation of a Year 10 support thread
previous thread

Last thread was great and supportive as some of us tried to navigate year 10 and some very helpful peeps steered us through.

[Heifer]

Hi all, we are almost at the end of Yr10 here - just this week to go (finish half day on Friday). DD is on her last legs. She was already feeling pretty drained after her Mock Mock which finished week ago and then last week had teeth extraction under General anaesthetic which has left her battered and bruised.
She has got most of her results back and is pretty happy. 7 for Maths and English Language (which is a great result as she seemed to be stuck on 6s). Chemistry 6 and Physics 5 (missed 6 by 1 pt apparently).. She is very worried about both of those and is putting pressure on herself to get at least 7s in everything! 8 in PE, History and Spanish (I think). She worked really hard revising before the exams started but definitely dropped off once they started which she has now learn can't happen next year. I think she learnt a lot doing these Mock Mocks, using actual GCSE questions and marking scheme. She seems to have FINALLY got it about having to answer a certain way, despite disagreeing and saying it was what she meant and it's the same thing for years. Which I think (hope) is where she can pick up marks for Chem and Physics.
It has made me realise that we have to watch the stress levels, and TRY to make sure she gets enough sleep as she has always been a late to bed girl but seems to have stopped sleeping in when she gets the chance. She also seems to prefer to work late into the evening rather than starting work earlier which worries me.
All in all, I think Yr10 has been her best year (report due out this week, so I could be wrong results wise) but I think it's all clicked and she seems happy in herself which is so important.
Rest and recuperation now needed ready to start again (during the summer holidays hopefully, although not too much as I want her to relax and have fun with her friends too. I will leave it up to her.
Keep posting and reading people, this is a great way to learn how others have done things (I've got some great tips on here).

[OrangeCinnamon]

Hi all Dd passed her grade 6 voice exam with merit, (she is disappointed as last year was distinction) is doing her theory grade 5 next term and got a Gcse graded 9 in her mock vocal performance assessment ...she also seems to be back on form with History and anxieties have lessened.

I spent yesterday sorting her room I.e moving wardrobes and bookcases and musical instruments and faffing with fairy lights and inspirational postcards...she sorted her desk and organised revision notes into folders and made sure she got rid of unnecessary paper (quite hard to do on a three year gcse soo much paper). Her room is a really lovely space now with defined areas and as a bonus found some of those adult style colouring books for a calming bedtime activity.

Been thinking a lot about how to make things a bit easier next year.. like you @heiffer am keen on making sure the sleep is good. Also thinking of gentle iron top ups , encouraging more reading , swimming and walking. Sensibly she decides not to try out for school musical but I would like her to participate in an put of school activity. She has been invited to join a barbershop style chorus but is a bit reluctant due to being the youngest there by a number of years.

I'm jealous of all your Latin learners ..we tried to learn together in Year 7 and had the Cambridge book! I miss it and Dd lost interest ..Her school does lunchtime Latin club for quals.

It seems most are advocating a 'ticking over' type strategy for summer? I would very much like Dd to keep on top of Maths and French but will think about exactly how we go about that ! Also doing our own style 6 week summer reading challenge as a family to encourage getting away from screens.

[Silverhill]

OrangeCinnamon
Well done to your DD on the singing exam.

That must be so satisfying to have her room sorted.

[OrangeCinnamon]

Thanks @Silverhill..it is so satisfying especially as I had to share with two sisters so never had my own space!

[PostNotInHaste]

Well done to your DD OrangeCinnamon and her room sounds great.

DS is hopefully doing C25K this summer and probably some coding with DH so he can show he’s done some fir 6th form applications. He’s got a good book series on the go and he’s going to be pitching in within a family decorating project but apart from that I want him to chill as want him well rested to start year 11. Am going to GP next year to get him stronger hayfever meds.

I’m going to be giving some thought not only to what I can do to help DS next year but also what I can do for me next spring as it can get a touch stressful potentially with change of routine and exam stress.

[ProggyMat]

The best laid plans of mice and (Wo)men...in respect of summer 'plate spinning' - ' ticking over'
I'm with Heifer keep posting!
No matter which grades our DC need and/or are chasing for where they aspire to be after GCSEs in 2020 will of course be different.
That said, the issues in negotiating the journey, in my opinion, remain the same.
Looking forward to 'fastening my seat belt'- dunno about 'whoo Hoo-in to Yr 11 - and most of all looking forward to sharing tips and tricks on a really supportive thread.

[Oblomov19]

Placemarking. Thank you OP.
I enjoyed the last thread.

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

That all sounds really positive, Orange - well done to your daughter (and you).
I'm hoping to tackle DD's bedroom this summer, so that she at least has some kind of organised area for folders etc; we've tried various arrangements, but she up ends them within says, so we need to find a fool-proof way that she can adhere to.

We've just had her year 10 report. Mostly positive, targets of 7s and an 8 in all but 2 subjects - history and maths.
Maths has always been her nemesis, but she's hoping to do history at A level.
The thing that has riled me is the comments made by the geography and history teachers. Knowing DD has ADHD/executive processing issues/poor working memory, both have criticised her " variable" performance, saying that she did better in one paper than the other. The geography teacher went so far as to suggest that DD needs to make sure she applies herself equally in both, saying that she'd lost "unnecessary marks due to maths and map reading mistakes".
Perhaps I'm being over- sensitive, but those comments seem to suggest that DD isn't trying hard enough, which couldn't be further from the truth. We gave had previous communication with the school, regarding this teacher and Dd's SEN (DD has a pupil passport which was being ignored) and we spoke to her at parents' evening about the same.
On both occasions, her response is that DD should turn up at drop-in sessions if she's struggling, but that's not really the point, is it? Shouldn't the teacher be supporting DD in lessons, rather than just expecting DD to sort it out in her free time?

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

Up-ends them within days

[crazycrofter]

That's frustrating alsoplayspiccolo, but maybe just view the report as descriptive, rather than judgemental, if you know what I mean. They're stating facts in saying she did better in one paper than the other. My dd had the same in History - the challenge for her is to work out how to speed up. I guess your dd needs to work out what she can do to even out her performance, and not worry too much about what the teacher thinks of her.

I had a discussion with dd about Spanish, as she was really knocked back by the idea that the teacher thought she wasn't good at it, even though she enjoys it and had worked hard (but still struggles). Ultimately it doesn't really matter what the teacher thinks of them, the girls just need to work out what they need to do to get the best results they're capable of.

If dd isn't getting the help she's entitled to in lessons, that might be part of the reason of course. I know some people are very clued in when it comes to ADHD and other issues and others aren't.

[crazycrofter]

Well done to your dd Orangecinnamon, she sounds very talented! Dd enjoys singing and is hoping to take grade 4 next year.

[Comefromaway]

Ds will be spending the rest of term in his new form group. He was initially not happy about this as he has no friends in his new form but he's texted that its OK. His Year9/10 form tutor was a lovely man who has been very supportive of ds. The dictat from the head though is that in Year 11 they have a form tutor who is either a maths or English teacher (whichever is their weakest subject) and they do that subject in form time!

School trip on Thursday to wath a West End show then counting time until the end of term. He has decided not to audition for next year's school show (he was hotly tip-ped to get one of the lead roles) but instead is going to play 2nd Keys in the band and arrange all the band parts from the vocal score and programme in the keyboard sounds!

[PostNotInHaste]

I feel very behind you all at the moment ! Results starting to come in and all good so far. There’s parent’s evening next week , i’m not here so DH going.

These exams were a test of how DS will cope with the writing and whether he wants to use a laptop. So far so good, One History paper and business paper back, want to see English to check he’s coped and just see what happens with other History and Business paper,

That’s quite a good idea with the firm tutors Comefromaway

[Backintime4breakfast]

Hello,please can I join you? My sons school have “recommended” that he spends the holidays ( he has 8 weeks) sorting out & making all his revision notes. Whilst I think this is a good idea in theory I’m not sure how it’s going to go in practise!

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

Your last paragraph is what concerns me, crazy. You're right about not worrying what the teacher thinks, but this particular teacher seems to think DD could do better by trying harder, which is a ridiculous ( and actually, damaging) suggestion when talking about SEN issues; talking about losing "unnecessary" marks because of mistakes is a bit like saying a student with one leg took an "unnecessarily" long time to get up the stairs.

[crazycrofter]

Always, I know what you mean. We’re in the process of getting year 8 ds diagnosed with ADHD and the school know this - but his report yesterday was really negative about his lack of focus and effort. But ultimately I think we just have to try to help our kids reach their potential and make sure they know that we understand their struggles. I guess they’ll face ignorance in the future too, especially at work, and won’t necessarily have allowances made there. I don’t know what the answer is but it sounds like your dd is doing really well despite her struggles!

[RedSkyLastNight]

I hope no one minds me sharing this but .. finally some good news for DS (unless changed by the moderators) he has got a Distinction in his English oral. Really pleased for him.

On the less positive side, we had the "chat", pointed out that his current predicted grades were not good enough for A Level and that he needs to think seriously about what he wants to happen and we will support him to make it happen (he agreed that mum nagging might be the best way even if he doesn't like it). Unfortunately at the moment he's in a rut of thinking he is bad at everything and would like to give up, so need to get him over that. I told DH that I feel bad for not nagging sooner, but he pointed out that DS needed to realise that he couldn't do it himself before he'd let me help.

We've suggested he write down the grades he would like to achieve and we will work together on a plan to make this happen.

[crazycrofter]

Well done to your ds! Is that a GCSE oral mark?

I think it must be quite common for year 10 results to be disappointing. Dd had a pretty positive parents evening but results were a lot lower than what she’d hope to achieve next year. I just hope she can get down to serious revision early enough for the real things.

[RedSkyLastNight]

Yes, GCSE oral. DS's approach so far has been "winging it". I think he is finally starting to realise this isn't going to work longer term.

Think there is a few of us hoping for better things in Year 11!

[PostNotInHaste]

That’s great news on the oral RedSky, well done to him. I think you’re right, he had to get to the point where he will accept the help and I know I keep saying it, but a lot can change in a year. Also they needed the mocks really to get a good idea of where they are and three is something highly focusing about realising it gets serious from here on.

Results still trickling in for DS and all fine with no nasty surprises so far, hoping that lasts. Was also thinking that can book first term time holiday next summer as he is youngest, looks like last possible date would potentially be 24th June? Looked at AQA provisional timetable, there seems to be a fair amount in May.

[ProggyMat]

Well done Red's DS!
crazy that a teacher has made your DD feel she is 'not good' at a subject she is enjoying and working hard at! That said, as you say as parents we just need to focus on helping our DC reach their potential and ultimately use Yr10 and all it entailed as a learning curve.
Post DD and I are looking at a quick get away following her GCSE's - as a treat for the work she will have put in. Or, rather, keeping a lid on the revizilla monster as there will be no 'cash incentives' for grades.
You need to look up to see when the 'contingency' day is though?
This year, for DD's school it was 26th June.

[Tumbleton]

Exam contingency date is 24 June 2020.

[GreekOddess]

Redsky - I'm in a similar position with my ds. He wants to do A levels, he definitely has the capability but if he continues with his "wing it" attitude he isn't going to achieve good enough grades.

I like your idea about asking him what grades he wants to achieve and coming up with a plan. We will try that too.

[ProggyMat]

Tumbleton Thanks for 'heads up' So earliest 'get away' will be 25th June?

[Comefromaway]

It depends whether they want to attend prom or not I guess.